As China’s new passport design stirs up controversial border disputes in various regions, Chinese state media reports that China and India, whose border has remained unsettled since the Sino-India war in the 1960s, have agreed to maintain peace in border areas, from Xinhua:
Both sides agreed to create a favorable atmosphere and conditions for the final settlement of the border issue and agreed that it should not affect the positive development of China-India ties, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.
China’s State Councilor Dai Bingguo and India’s National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon co-chaired talks here on Monday.
The two sides confirmed they will speed up work to further narrow differences, on the basis of peace and friendship, equal consultation, mutual respect and mutual understanding, according to the statement.
Menon said that India and China share common views on many major issues and their consensus is far greater than differences. Developing relations with China is one of the priorities of India’s foreign policy, he said.
He stressed that India will not participate in any attempt to contain China.
The United States has been an active player in the continuing border disputes, but Beijing is seeking to discourage “American Interference,” The Times of India adds:
India and China were engaged in tough bargaining on Monday with Beijing seeking an assurance that New Delhi would not encourage “American interference” in the region. The Indian delegation, led by National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, will continue discussion on the border dispute and the passport controversy.
Chinese leaders revealed a strong desire to keep India out of the emerging club of nations – Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines – involved in territorial disputes with China. Beijing’s anxiety offers an opportunity for India to negotiate some tough issues like China’s continued arms support to ... « Back to Article